Praying like Daniel

Here in the midwest, there are many Christians. It is normal, here, to give credit to God. We pray in public without a thought of being harmed because of it. I wonder how we would act in a climate like Daniel's. I wonder if we would pray in public if we faced being throne into a lion's den. Daniel 6 tells us specifically that Daniel "got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to God, just as he had done before." Would we give thanks to God in such a hostile climate?

Once Daniel's praying to someone other than the king was reported to the king, it is interesting to note that nowhere does it mention that Daniel was in distress. The king was in distress, but not Daniel. It seems that Daniel knew something the king did not. It doesn't say that Daniel believed God would save him from the mouths of the lions. It does appear that Daniel knew he would be okay regardless of the circumstances. Can we pray with thanksgiving regardless of our circumstances? May God help us to do so.

For as King Darius wrote:
"He is the living God
   and he endures forever;
his kingdom will not be destroyed,
   and his dominion will never end.
He rescues and he saves;
   he performs signs and wonders
   in the heavens and on the earth.
He has rescued Daniel
   from the power of the lions."

Thanks be to God!